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Than Shwe

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Than Shwe
President of Burma
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 April 1992
Prime MinisterKhin Nyunt
Soe Win
Thein Sein
Vice PresidentMaung Aye
Preceded bySaw Maung
Personal details
Born (1933-02-02) 2 February 1933 (age 91)
Kyaukse, Mandalay Province
British Burma
SpouseKyaing Kyaing & Naung Thihashwe[1]

Senior General Than Shwe (Template:Lang-my; IPA: [θáɴ ʃwè]; born 2 February 1933)[2] is the dictator of Myanmar (Burma), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw and chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) since 23 April 1992. SPDC is the name of the former State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), established in 1988. He is also the head of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). These positions and titles effectively amount to Than Shwe being what is generally referred to as the "head" of Myanmar's ruling military junta.

Early life and politics

Than Shwe (aka "the King of today Myanmar") was born in Minzu village, near Kyaukse, Mandalay Province, British Burma. After working as a postman he enlisted in the Burmese army, where he participated in the government's powerful counter-insurgency campaign against ethnic-Karen guerrillas in eastern Burma.[3]

After the military coup in 1962 by General Ne Win, Than Shwe continued to rise steadily through the ranks, working for the military's Psychological Warfare Department.[4] He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972, Colonel in 1978, Commander of the South West Regional Command in 1983, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Brigadier-General and Deputy Minister of Defence in 1985 and then Major-General in 1986.

He also obtained a seat on the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party's Central Executive Committee.

Ascent to Power

The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was created after the military organised another coup in response to the democracy uprising of 1988, and Than Shwe was appointed as one of 21 members of the cabinet headed by General Saw Maung.

On 23 April 1992, Saw Maung unexpectedly resigned, citing health reasons,[5] and Than Shwe replaced him as Chairman of the Council, head of state, Secretary of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Style of leadership

Than Shwe has relaxed some state control over the economy,[6] and has been a vocal supporter of Burma's participation in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). He also oversaw a large crackdown on corruption, which saw the sackings of a number of cabinet ministers and regional commanders in 1997.

The convention for the "Discipline Democracy New Constitution" was convened from 9 January 1993 to 3 September 2007, a period of more than 14 years and 8 months. Although the main opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi, which won the multi-party democracy general election in 1990, did not participate, the chairman of National Convention Lieutenant General Thein Sein announced that the creation of the "Constitution" had been accomplished.

Than Shwe has continued the suppression of the free press in Burma, and has overseen the detention of journalists who oppose his regime. While he oversaw the release of Aung San Suu Kyi during the late 1990s, he also oversaw her return to detention in 2003. Despite his relaxation of some restrictions on Burma's economy, his economic policies have been often criticized as ill-planned.[7][8]

He maintains a low profile. He tends to be seen as being sullen, humourless and rather withdrawn, a hardliner, skilled manipulator and an opponent of the democratization of Burma.[9] He marks national holidays and ceremonies with messages in the state-run newspapers, but rarely talks to the press. The lavish wedding of his daughter, involving diamonds and champagne, was particularly controversial in a country whose people continue to suffer enormous poverty and enforced austerity.[10]

For many years, Than Shwe was seen as something of a figurehead as head of state, with the power over policy being held by his ministers. More recent reports suggest that, in recent years, he has been consolidating his power over the country. When he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60, he simply extended it, which has led to suggestions that he may remain as head of state for the rest of his life.[citation needed]

Power struggles have plagued Burma's military leadership. Than Shwe has been linked to the toppling and arrest of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt in 2004, which has significantly increased his own power.[11] The former premier, who said he supported Aung San Suu Kyi's involvement in the National Convention, was seen as a moderate at odds with the junta's hardliners.

Than Shwe is said to rely heavily on advice from his soothsayers, a style of ruling dating back to Ne Win, a leader who once shot his mirror to avoid bad luck.[12]

In May and November 2006 he met with the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari in the newly-built capital of Naypyidaw, which had replaced Yangon in the previous year, and permitted Gambari to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Than Shwe refused to meet Ibrahim Gambari, during his visits to Myanmar in November 2007 and on 10 March 2008.[13]

In early May 2008, Than Shwe refused many foreign aid workers from entering the country in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis (May 2, 2008).[14] This led to many criticisms from the UN as well as the international community.

In early July 2009, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited Myanmar and held talks with General Than Shwe. The military junta rejected UN Secretary General's request to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi. Shwe also commented on the upcoming 2010 Burmese election, saying that by the time the UN chief next visits Burma, ""I will be an ordinary citizen, a lay person, and my colleagues will too because it will be a civilian government."[15]

Health and family

He is known to be a diabetic,[11] and he is rumoured to have intestinal cancer.[16] He rarely makes public appearances.[17]

Than Shwe flew to Singapore on 31 December 2006. Concerns about Than's health intensified after he failed to appear at an official Independence Day dinner for military leaders, officials, and diplomats on 4 January 2007. It was the first time since he took power in 1992 that Than did not host the annual dinner. Than Shwe had checked out of Singapore's General Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment, and returned to Burma two weeks later.

In 2006, a home video footage of Than Shwe's daughter Thandar Shwe's wedding was leaked on the Internet, which sparked controversy and criticism from Burmese and foreign media for the lavish and seemingly ostentatious reception.[10][18]

After days of anti-government protests, there were unconfirmed reports that Than Shwe's wife and pets fled the country on 27 September 2007, possibly to Laos.[19]

International media

Than Shwe ranked No. 4 on Parade Magazine's 2009 "World's Worst Dictators" list.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Buddhist". PARADE Magazine.
  2. ^ "Than Shwe". Alternative Asean Network on Burma. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  3. ^ Brown, Kerry. "Paranoid, insular and inept, the junta has no Plan B", The Guardian, 28 September 2007, p.37
  4. ^ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LF26Ae01.html
  5. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-general-saw-maung-1253020.html
  6. ^ Johnson (2005), p. 67
  7. ^ Independence Online Newsletter. Shan Herald Agency for News. Issue 6, January 2007.
  8. ^ Smith, Matthew; Htoo, Naing (2008). "Energy Security: Security for Whom?". Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal.
  9. ^ http://www.dvb.no/analysis/the-general-must-not-be-disturbed/8617
  10. ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (2007-10-07). "Drugs and astrology: how 'Bulldog' wields power". The Observer. The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-05-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b Justin McCurry, Jonathan Watts & Alex Duval Smith (September 30, 2007). How Junta stemmed a saffron tide. The Observer.
  12. ^ http://www.dgmoen.net/video_trans/014.html
  13. ^ How Myanmar leader snubs U.N. envoy. CNN. March 11, 2008
  14. ^ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/the_worst_of_the_worst?page=0,3
  15. ^ Koyakutty, Haseenah (July 15, 2009). UN gains leverage over Myanmar. Asia Times Online.
  16. ^ http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=5597&page=4
  17. ^ "Burma's hardline generals". BBC News. 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  18. ^ Cropley, Ed (2006-11-02). "Lavish Myanmar junta wedding video sparks outrage". The Star Online. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  19. ^ Than Shwe's family in Laos Mizzima News, September 27, 2007.
  20. ^ Parade Magazine. " The Worlds 10 Worst Dictators", 22 March 2009

Bibliography

  • Johnson, Robert (2005). A region in turmoil: South Asian conflicts since 1947. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1861892577.
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